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Investing more energy into measuring and improving quality of life — and less on ROI — is a smarter, more sustainable approach to workplace wellness. Winning at Workplace Wellness: Why Quality of Life Matters More Than ROI, a new white paper from Health Enhancement Systems, reports on the research behind this statement.

Winning at Workplace Wellness: Why Quality of Life Matters More Than ROI, a free white paper from Health Enhancement Systems.

Many wellness programs are way too focused on ROI, and they don’t address the day-to-day challenges of the people they serve. Nobody gets sick or stuck in a rut on purpose; most people genuinely want to feel good and make the most out of life.

83% of large and mid-size US employers offer incentives for participation in data-gathering activities like health risk assessments or biometric screenings

58% plan to impose consequences for non-compliance.

Desperate to justify their wellness programs with a positive ROI, employers are resorting to big carrots and sticks to drive participation and results.

But wellness ROI isn’t a powerful driver for employees and their families; for them, quality of life matters most. Workplace wellness programs that address a broad range of well-being factors — like finances, relationships, family life, stress, and career growth in addition to physical activity and nutrition — help make life better all the way around.

At best, an ROI-first emphasis offers only a narrow view of a program’s true value. When workers feel valued and are adequately compensated, a comprehensive wellness program is priceless in terms of well-being, recruitment, retention, loyalty, morale, and performance.

Winning at Workplace Wellness: Why Quality of Life Matters More Than ROI challenges employers to think differently about how they assess wellness program success or failure. Businesses don’t typically measure ROI to justify pensions, PTO, family leave, adoption assistance, casual days, or a host of other programs. They offer these benefits because they think it’s good for business… and that’s the rationale needed again for workplace wellness.

An abundance of research, as described in this white paper, underscores the value of a workplace culture that supports well-being/quality of life.

The free white paper is a call to action for organizations of all sizes to help employees connect the dots between everyday choices, personal well-being, and performance at home or on the job.

Why a robust walking culture is the easiest, most effective way to help employees and families improve quality of life

How a corporate culture that encourages a sense of humor and fun helps employees — and businesses — thrive

Links to assessments and a list of sample questions.

“Many wellness programs are way too focused on ROI and biometric data, and they don’t address the real, day-to-day challenges of the people they serve. Nobody gets sick or stuck in a rut on purpose; most people genuinely want to feel good, perform well, and make the most out of life,” notes Dean Witherspoon, President and founder of Health Enhancement Systems. “Wellness programs that take a broader view of well-being — and focus on quality of life — help make life better for employees and families. And that goes a long way toward attracting and maintaining top talent.”

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Health Enhancement Systems creates employee wellness programs for organizations in North America and throughout the world. More than 20 effective, engaging HES wellness campaigns have been adopted by over a thousand organizations — serving hundreds of thousands of participants.